The ABCs of politics

I was listening to Khalid Wasi on the radio last night, talking some more about his new political party, the All Bermuda Congress (ABC). By the end I had no better idea what the ABC stands for than I did at the start.

Mr. Wasi criticises the PLP and UBP for defining themselves in opposition to each other. Yet so far, Mr. Wasi seems to be defining the ABC in opposition to the PLP and UBP. He has articulated twelve core principles, but they're either statements with which no politician would disagree ("To ensure Bermudians the right to the natural pursuit of happiness and prosperity") or simply incomprehensible ("To develop the socio-economic bonds that give maximum range to the Bermudian economy in a global environment"). There have been no details of what the party's policies would be. Instead, Mr. Wasi is simply pitching his party at those on both the left and the right who are disenchanted with the politics of race.

If Mr. Wasi simply wanted the ABC to be a single-issue protest party, the absence of a unifying ideology wouldn't matter. But he doesn't. He wants to replace the UBP.

Doing that will require him to not only attract support but retain it too. So how does he plan to reconcile the conflicting ideologies of those who have joined his party from the left and those who have joined from the right? What policies might such an unlikely alliance be able to unite around? Mr. Wasi still hasn't made that clear.

I also don't understand how replacing the UBP will end racial politics. Even if Mr. Wasi succeeds in his goal, it's difficult to imagine many whites switching their vote to the PLP while they continue to use racial epithets. Instead, most would probably vote for the ABC, perpetuating the racial split.

Before Mr. Wasi indulges himself in any more daydreams about replacing the UBP, he needs to outline precisely what his party's policies are.

Comments

[Yet Another Limey on 19.01.06 at 10:09]

It’s a good job* that the PLP look like offering a referendum on independence, because with the ABC threatening to split the UBP vote it could be a PLP landslide next election.

* A good job for people opposed to independence anyway.

[Silencio on 19.01.06 at 11:19]

"He has articulated twelve core principles, but they're either statements with which no politician would disagree ("To ensure Bermudians the right to the natural pursuit of happiness and prosperity") or simply incomprehensible."

My intrepetation is that it means resolving what global economic gains are of real long term benefit to Bermudians both socially and economically. In contrast to today where we have grown certain aspects of our global business to the detriment of our social fabric (eg cost and availability of housing).

What you are missing thou is that while no politician would publicly disagree with the 12 points, none of them have actually lived by them. Few of them have even advocated them - can you imagine the Col saying any of those? ABC promises to walk the talk. It's core objective is to go beyond the baggage. Cutting them down before they even get a chance to make good on their promise is self-defeating.

[Yet Another Limey on 19.01.06 at 11:43]

After reading through the 12 core principals I can only conclude two things:

1. Someone got a thesaurus for Christmas.
2. I’d vote for him* (assuming the other two parties don’t radically change before the next election)

Not that I get a vote… yet.

[Lord Nelson on 19.01.06 at 12:33]

Just sounds like a dude who's looking for some attention, and useing big words he doesn't understand while he's at it.

[The Limey on 19.01.06 at 13:13]

Silencio

What you are missing thou is that while no politician would publicly disagree with the 12 points, none of them have actually lived by them... ABC promises to walk the talk.

ABC's principles are admirable. I have no doubt that their intent is good. But I'm not really interested in promises to walk the talk. They actually have to do so.

The best way to tell whether they're likely to keep their promises is to look at the policies that underlie them. It's easy to say you want to "maximise the effectiveness of Bermudians and their options in a global environment". But how do the ABC propose to do this? Would they, for example, reverse the changes to the education system introduced by the UBP? Are they opposed to independence? Would they abolish work permit term limits, or perhaps introduce quotas? Until they provide some meat it's impossible to say whether they're likely to live up to their promises or not.

[Backs on 19.01.06 at 13:32]

Great points Limey...the other one I would like to hear more on is how they define an operation like "sustainable development". This is one of those seemingly "progressive" concepts that has been bandied about for many years in the field of Town Planning. In fact it would appear this government has "lifted" much of the language first introduced on this topic in Bermuda by way of the 1996 Bermuda Development Plan. As far as I am aware the architects of this particular document were Brain Rowlinson and Peter Adwick. I want to hear more on how our leaders intend to define the nature and scope of this age old twon planning concept as it relates to Bermuda!

[Silencio on 19.01.06 at 14:00]

"Until they provide some meat it's impossible to say whether they're likely to live up to their promises or not."

Yet, your initial comments are rather cynical. Wasi has already made clear that the party is in a formulation stage. All I can say is for me, the promise of the ABC is better than the reality of the PLP and UBP.